This is for my Friend HARRY HIDES>. its long.. so others scroll.. or choose to read and learn about Dobs.. makes no difference to me.. shake my hand...or kiss my ass.
harry.
about the ken snow post of mine..
and how i envision upsellng..
Its about mentioning those things prior.. ..not to their face and not putting the customer 'on the spot'.. thats UPSELLING as I am referring to it.
now if you are talking to them on the phone.. and mention
protector
do they need UPH or tile and grout cleaning?
To explain that if they move the furniture or prevac.. it CAN be less.
Thats NOT upselling.. but we know what upselling is.. in this industry.
just ask all my first time customers.. its pressure tactics..
I didnt say KEn used it... I merely, inquired. I think that Ken could double his prices.. and he's leaving money on the table.. but hey.. i couldnt begin to know numbers like KEN>>. And I admire his company.. wow.. what a history.
If he told me how they upsold.. and it was respectful.. then cool.
I know SS around here.. gives a cheap cleaning price.. mentions notta much about the other stuff.
Gets to the house.. gets in faces.. tries to sell protector,, UPH.. rugs. deodorization, etc..
and puts the customer on the spot.
its about no advance warning... pressure and intimidation.. and its intentional by many..
and to those that mention this stuff prior.. cool.. i dont see that as upselling,, morelike informing.. and there is a line that is pretty wide in the sand.
But when a company or tech arrives to do 3 areas.. for 99.00 and then talks about protector.. etc.. and it wasnt talked about prior. (unless they ask).. then I dont like to see that..
But thats me.. and I take this attitude.. as many many customers.. appreciate and comment on my bill being exactlyl what I quoted on the phone. I dont know how many new customers that WOWS...
They talk about ALL other companies.. pressure upselling to them on shortnotice.. and they way too often say YES>... for that reason.. when they want to say NO..
And harry.. i admit.. and i promise you.. .you or your best tech.. would look up to me on my WORST day.. unless its advanced uph work.
i'll step out of bed.. not brush my teeth.. give me 10 secs.. to open my eyes.. if i need that.. and i'll blow ya away..
I promise you that.. i'm that good. And make note.. i'm talking about carpet cleaning. not leather. upholstery, dye work.. just flat out methodology of cleaning.. tools.. getting results.
That other stuff is specialty work.. and I bow to you in upholstery.. and leather. you can have it.. i dont like to do those.. (i do uph.. when asked.. but its all blue collar stuff around here.. lucky me.. good for them)..
and I'm comfie in UPH.. but i get 'wood' when doing cc'ing. thats my passion.
Nothing else.. not VCT.. Not leather..
You can claim that title. iI'll make you a crown.. lol you and Lonnie can fight for it.. and i'll give the winner a standing ovation.
when you dont care about the money.. or numbers side... (i'm loaded for life dude.. ).. When its all about nothing short of quality.. its easy to be near the top..
I may not be the best.. but they are within sight..
I tell my buddy, college biz professor.. known all over the country.. he teaches biz stuff.. "If you could do it.. you wouldnt be in the classroom.. you'd be out living it''..
I say that to all of you office jockeys.. that love the biz side of things.. and think you are carpet cleaners.. when most are merely office managers of cc'ing companies.. (there is a HUGH difference).... You're mostly managers.. not cleaners (there ARE exceptions).. I'm talking in this thread.. about cleaning..
flat out getting down and dirty and getting it done at all costs..
Not answering the fooking fone.. scratching your nuts and watching soaps in between calls..
CLEANING.. in the FIELD>. on a daily BASIS..not just when a tech calls in sick or your behind. ..
You office jockeys.. are limited as to how good you can be.. because the fruits of your labors... are limited to the dimensions of 4 walls of an office or shop and a damn computer screen. And if you all take pride in having 2.4.8 of 32 vehicles.. So WHAT>. How good are your 32 vehicles.. not how much money do they make.
At the end of the damn day.. its not about numbers.. its about how good you are. your respect for being good from your peers.. even if they dont like your person.. and what your customers think.. as you 20x exceed their expectations.
The real work is in the fields.. out in the trenches.. sweating.. meeting the people.. shaking their hands.. and working for them.. not in techs.. employees driven.
An average owner operator will ALWAYS be better than a very good 'paid' tech. Its inherent. that tech will stay there until another .50 cents per hr comes a knockin'... trust me.
Atlteast as passionate O/o like me.
And I love you Harry.. i do.. but i'll debate with my methods.. and passion.. with anyone in the history of this field. You may tie me.. you wont beat me.. because I'll die for it. You won't.
And you wont put your work before God, family and friends.. I have and will continue to do such.
That will always be my advantage.. and always put anybody else that I've met to this day.. at a slight to large.. disadvantage.
And i'm not singling out anyone. I got respect for all.. and got NO bones to pick..
And if the money in the world just disappeared.. and we didnt get paid to do shit.. I promise you one thing. id go door to door.. and clean for free.. all day long.
I do it now.
I've donated about 200k in cleaning the past 6 years. working for free.. not getting paid and giving away.. not that type. you can do the math.. and not even the IRS says you have to charge.. its not illegal.
and that number will grow the next 6 years...
Its all about quality.. you'll NEVER meet anybody like me Harry.. when it comes to quality.. vs what I charge for it.
its all about being FAIR.. and seeing how good I can get.. and giving the fruits of my labor. to those that need it. my riches are in my quality of the things that i do.. thats my paycheck. my relationship with friends and family.
And thats just me.. not better or worse as a person.. but as a cleaner.. i'm top shelf.. and i dont mind saying it. Thats all. and there ARE alot of top shelf cleaners.
Dont push me my friend,, and I wont put a number in your loss column.
because i'll bet the house on it. Respectfully,
And when I put my methods to the classroom.. every instructor here now.. will want to sit in it.
Its will be about getting it done. not chemistry.. not heat.. not fibers..
flat out. real world.. how to get it done..
that other stuff is ok.. and has its place.. but its what I term ''filler bullshit'..
and my classroom.. will be in a companys schedule book ,, out in the field.. real world..
because cleaning takes place in the world.. not in the class room.
i'll end this.
A hugh handshake.. smile, high 5 and muchas love to you Amigo..
You know i love ya..
But i think you gotta bone to pick with me.
Its all good.. and as Jimmy once emailed to me.. ''its all fun behind the scenes'..
you be well. Nothing but the best to you my friend and your family and great country.